Selecting a Building Management System (BMS) for Sites with a Data Center or IT Room

A data center or IT room uniquely alters the requirements of a building management system (BMS). This is primarily because of the criticality of IT and its dependence on facility infrastructure. IT’s reliance on power and cooling systems makes a BMS an important part of a larger data center infrastructure management (DCIM) solution that brings together Facilities and IT. The cooperation and information sharing better ensures uninterrupted and efficient operation. This paper explains how the requirements for building management are affected by the presence of a mission critical data center or IT room (data rooms) and describes key attributes to look for in an effective BMS system. Common pitfalls of implementing and using a BMS for sites with IT along with advice on how to avoid them are also provided.